Tiger of The Southwest

General Cook said of the Apache, "These tigers of the human race resented anything like an attempt to regulate their conduct, or in any way to interfere with their mode of life." (like the American Revolution??!)  The most "tiger-like" of them all was Geronimo who became a terror to Mexicans and whites alike in the Southwest - a symbol of the tenacious Indian resistance to white man's intrusion.

The Early Years

The Minbreno Apaches, led by chief Mangra Coloradas, made a living raiding Mexicans and young Goyathalay did his share of riding and fighting.  But in the 1850s Mexicans killed his mother, his wife and his three children and turned Goyathalay's hatred outward.  His hatred attracted the attention of Chief Coloradas and he sent him to Cochise, chief of the Chiricahuas tribe to enlist him in the fight against the Mexicans.

Goyathalay and Cochise's warriors invaded the town of Arizpe, captured ammunition and food, and fought a two-day battle against the Mexican forces.  During the battle Goyathalay was seen running around charging against the enemy when one Mexican yelled, "Geronimo!"  The cry was echoed by others and from that day forward Goyathalay was known as Geronimo, Spanish for Jerome.

Geronimo left his home tribe soon after and married a Chiricuhua squaw and accepted Cochise as his leader.  In 1876 he began using the Sierra Madre of western Mexico as a stronghold to raid both sides of the border and terrorize Mexicans and whites. 

Next time...fighting the white man
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On March 1, 1872, President Grant signs the bill creating the nation’s first national park at Yellowstone.